Religious Change and College Students: Risk Behaviors, Peer and Family Influence, and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among religious change and risk behaviors, perceived influence from peers and family, and life satisfaction. In order to increase the knowledge of these potential correlates of religious change in college students, the researcher sought to identify the relationships among religious change and the risk behaviors of alcohol consumption, marijuana use, and increased sexual risk patterns, as well as among religious change and perceived influence from past peers, current peers, and family. Additionally, the association between religious change and life satisfaction was examined. The analysis of these relationships was conducted on a sample size of 145 students at a large, secular undergraduate institution in the Midwest, and each participant was asked to report information on each of the variables of interest. The results of this study indicated significant relationships among religious change and alcohol use, increased sexual risk behaviors, perceived current peer influence, and life satisfaction.